Ancram Center for the Arts and Spark of Hudson present free storytelling workshop with teaching artist Sarah Katan
Hudson, N.Y.— On Saturday, January 10th from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Ancram Center for the Arts and Spark of Hudson present a free storytelling workshop with teaching artist Sarah Katan.
Whether you’re a first-time storyteller or looking to refine your craft, this engaging workshop will help you discover and develop your personal narrative through creative problem-solving exercises. Based on Ancram Center’s celebrated “Real People Real Stories,” you’ll develop your story idea and learn to share it authentically with a live audience. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have the foundation of a compelling narrative and a clear plan to bring it to the stage.
Lead Teaching Artist Sarah Katan holds a Master’s Degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education and over a decade of teaching experience. The free workshop is on Saturday, January 10th from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Spark of Hudson, located at 502 Union Street in Hudson, N.Y. Registration and more information can be found online.
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MASS MoCA presents ‘In Session,’ a gallery visit with writer Anaїs Duplan
North Adams— On Saturday, January 31st from 10 a.m. to noon, MASS MoCA presents “In Session,” a gallery visit with writer Anaїs Duplan.
Join writer Anaїs Duplan for a seminar-style series exploring the concepts of privilege and power in contemporary art through reading short texts, writing in response to exhibitions, and discussion. The series focuses on exhibitions by Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) identifying artists who explore the concepts of privilege and power in some form. Duplan poses the question: “Power is a big part of political and artistic discourse but can feel very abstract; what does it mean?” Each session will help to understand and assess how power manifests in each exhibition.
Anaïs Duplan is a trans* poet, curator, and artist. He is the author of “I NEED MUSIC,” a book of essays; “Blackspace: On the Poetics of an Afrofuture,” a full-length poetry collection; “Take This Stallion,” and the chapbook “Mount Carmel and the Blood of Parnassus.” He is a professor of postcolonial literature at Bennington College and has taught poetry at The New School, Columbia University, and Sarah Lawrence College, among others. As an independent curator, he has facilitated curatorial projects in Chicago, Boston, Santa Fe, and Reykjavík. He was a 2017-2019 joint Public Programs fellow at the Museum of Modern Art and the Studio Museum in Harlem, and in 2021 received a Marian Goodman fellowship from Independent Curators International for his research on Black experimental documentary. Duplan is the recipient of the 2021 QUEER|ART|PRIZE for Recent Work, and a 2022 Whiting Award in Nonfiction. He was also awarded a Black Visionaries Award by Instagram and the Brooklyn Museum in 2022. In 2016, he founded the Center for Afrofuturist Studies, an artist residency program for artists of color, based at Iowa City’s artist-run organization, Public Space One.
The remaining sessions are as follows:
- January 31st: Jimena Sarno’s “Rhapsody”
- April 4th: Jeffrey Gibson’s “POWER FULL BECAUSE WE’RE DIFFERENT”
- July 11th: Zora J Murff’s “RACE/HUSTLE”
The next session is on Saturday, January 31st from 10 a.m. to noon at MASS MoCA, located at 1040 MASS MoCA Way in North Adams. Registration and more information can be found online.
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‘Lunch & Learn’ with photographer Thaddeus B. Kubis
Sheffield— Beginning on Wednesday, January 28th from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., Sheffield-based photographer Thaddeus B. Kubis will be offering “Lunch & Learn,” a monthly opportunity to enhance your photography skills with a structured and innovative program.
Aiming to teach a creative topic in a creative atmosphere, sessions will be hosted by Kubis at various regional restaurants, each selected for their creative atmosphere and culinary offerings. Each meeting will facilitate discussions on classic photography, its influence, and the impact of artificial intelligence on photography. The sessions are designed to provide participants with the opportunity to address questions, troubleshoot challenges, and stay informed about developments across all aspects of photography. The first session will focus on Depth of Field.
The inaugural session is scheduled for Wednesday, January 28th from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in Great Barrington. To express interest or request further information regarding event details and locations, please email info@tbkphotos.com. More information can be found online.
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North Berkshire Community Dance to host contra dance with music by Spare Parts and calling by Liz Nelson
Williamstown— On Saturday, December 13th from 7:15 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., North Berkshire Community Dance presents its monthly contra dance with music by Spare Parts and calling by Liz Nelson.
Contra dancing is a New England folk dance, equally suitable for families, couples, and individuals. Come alone or with a partner; most people change partners for each dance throughout the evening. Berkshire-based band “Spare Parts,” featuring Bill Matthiesen on piano, Liz Stell on flute, and Eric Buddington on fiddle, will warm the hall with elegant and lively traditional music. Calling with be by Liz Nelson, using Larks and Robins role terms.
The dance is on Saturday, December 13th from 7:15 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. in the Community Hall of the First Congregational Church, located at 906 Main Street in Williamstown. The evening will open with an introductory lesson at 7:15 p.m. Dancing for all starts at 7:30 p.m. More information can be found online.
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Literacy Volunteers of Berkshire County to host volunteer information sessions
Pittsfield— On Tuesday, January 13th at 10:30 a.m. and again at 6:30 p.m., Literacy Volunteers of Berkshire County will host information sessions on how to become a volunteer tutor.
Attend one of the sessions to learn more about the program and the steps to take to become a volunteer tutor. At the conclusion of the information session, interested volunteers can sign up for the next available tutor training, which starts on February 2nd.
The session is on Tuesday, January 13th at 10:30 a.m. and again at 6:30 p.m. at the Berkshire Athenaeum, located at 1 Wendell Avenue in Pittsfield. More information can be found online.
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21st annual Energize Connecticut℠ eesmarts™ student contest
New Britain, Conn— Registration for the 21st annual Energize Connecticut℠ eesmarts™ student contest has opened.
K-12 students are encouraged to discover how energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable solutions can impact our world through grade-level-appropriate prompts. Student prompts include a poster, limericks, an outdoor billboard, a fictional story with an energy-saving character, a persuasive letter, a comic strip, a social media post, a persuasive image in words or pictures, such as a short poem or a cartoon strip that advocates for an energy-saving or sustainability topic.
“Whether through art, writing, or hands-on projects, every year students throughout Connecticut show us that the smallest energy-saving ideas can spark meaningful change,” said Marissa Westbrook, Senior Manager of Conservation and Load Management at UI, SCG, and CNG.
Entries will be evaluated based on scientific validity and concise and convincing imagery. Finalists in all categories and grade levels will be honored at a special awards ceremony to be held in May at the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford. Winners will receive a certificate and a gift card. Registration is open until March 20th and projects are due on March 27th. Registration and more information can be found online.
